𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐒

VII

Rosé was awakened from another dreamless bout of slumber by the sound of the lock being opened, followed by that familiar, persistent knock.

Rap-rap-rap-

A shudder ran through her. Almost a Pavlovian reaction.

Still here, I see-

Still trapped.

She sat up in her bed and stretched before walking across the room to answer the door.

"Miss Park." Jimin stood before her once again, silver tray held out before him, laden with a bowl of what appeared to be oatmeal, a pot of coffee, a little bowl of sugar. "I thought I would bring you breakfast this morning-if you don't mind…" A hint of something in his voice. Like it was almost an order.

Rosé fought to stop her shoulders from tensing up, suddenly very aware of her state of dress. Less revealing than the gown from the previous night, perhaps, but more intimate…

Jimin licked his lips almost nervously as he considered her in that blousy, knee-length nightgown-considering the events of the prior night-

As if I have a choice. "O-of course, Jimin. You happened to wake me up-forgive my appearance…" Her voice trailed off as Jimin brushed past her and laid the tray on the table by the chairs. Rosé gritted her teeth, knowing he couldn't see her, and pushed the door closed.

He sat down, poured himself a cup of coffee, and crossed his legs. "Please don't worry about it-I've seen worse…" That was an unconscionably asinine thing to say-

Despite herself, Rosé bit back a grin at his expense before taking her seat, lifting the bowl of oatmeal before her and taking a spoonful of the hot cereal.

They sat there in silence for a few moments as Rosé ate, Jimin racking his brain for something to say-something to, perhaps, make this a bit less awkward-

After all, she'd practically thrown herself at him the previous night-

And now he was bringing her breakfast and seeing her in her nightgown, her long dark hair wavy with bedhead and strewn around her shoulders.

-Not to mention having seen her cry…

Jimin cleared his throat, placing the cup back onto the tray. "Miss Park-last night-your behavior was exceedingly strange towards me."

Have I been found out-has he realized-?

Rosé took a deep breath, willing her heart rate to slow, widening her eyes in innocent confusion. "I-I'm sorry, Jimin?"

She doesn't even remember-she must have been just pissed drunk. Jimin nervously scratched the back of his neck, wondering how best to bring up her wayward actions towards him in the back of the limousine.

"Ah-well. That's fortunate for you, I suppose… anyway, you clearly had far too much to drink; when we got back in the limo you-well-"

Looked at me like you wanted to eat me alive.

"-made a pass at me."

Rosé froze. He merely thinks I was drunk. Not daring to sigh in relief, she placed the oatmeal back down on the tray with shaky hands and immediately and very obviously bit her lip, lowering her gaze to the floor in a show of embarrassment. "I-I did? Well-I-I don't remember doing that, Jimin-I'm quite sorry to have caused you any trouble…"

I wish I could blush on command-

Jimin lifted his coffee cup to his lips. "Ah-well, it wasn't that much of a problem, Miss Park-after all, if I didn't know how to let down attractive women I'd have been married several times over. However, I did promise you that despite your performance in public, there would be nothing of that nature occurring between us privately. Therefore, while your behavior was merely a surprise and an annoyance to me, it was quite inappropriate…"

Rosé bit back a low, bitter retort. I'm the one who's inappropriate?-he's the one who's holding me prisoner in his own house-asshole-

"… and, I'm sure, not what you would have wanted to occur between us, given the state of our acquaintance."

"Ah-in any case, Jimin-I am quite sorry. It won't happen again." I'll have to note how much he observes me drinking…

Jimin nodded, considering the matter settled, and finished the cup of coffee. "Now, about this evening."

Rosé looked up at him, eyebrows raised. "This evening?"

Jimin poured himself another cup. "Yes-we seem to have met at a rather busy time in my life-"

More like you took me from my home and locked me in a room, only letting me out to be your fake lover for the sake of the media-

"-and, therefore, you will be accompanying me to a formal party being thrown by one of my fellow Seoul leaders of industry-a Mr. Koo Jun-Hoe of the Koo Corporation-" Jimin couldn't but groan subtly, inwardly at the mention of the black-haired poseur.

He makes Mino seem normal by comparison-

Rosé pressed her lips together. "I see."

Jimin stood up, smoothing out his suit jacket and picking up the tray. "I will arrive to fetch you from this room at seven o'clock. Jeon Jungkook and his assistants have kindly spent the night working overtime at my request, making you a dress suitable for this occasion. I expect he will arrive to get you ready sometime this evening."

Fetch me-like some object-

-he had his employees work like-like slaves, throughout the night-on my behalf-

Her quiet fury mounted, coming to a slow simmer.

"Jimin, you didn't have to do that…" Are there no depths to your cruelty, Park Jimin?

He shrugged casually, voice flat. "It's their job." Besides, Jungkook practically volunteered…

As Jimin brought the tray over to the door, a wild thought tugged at Rosé's mind. Well, if he expects me to go out prancing and swooning over him again-

"Jimin?" She allowed her voice to crack on the second syllable of his name.

She stood and clasped her hands before her. Like a sweet, soft girl. Pure. Unthreatening. "I-I was wondering-might I be allowed to speak with my brothers?-to let them know, you know, that I'm safe and being cared for and everything?"

"No." The answer came abruptly with little thought as Jimin looked at her coldly. "You haven't yet demonstrated that you won't be any trouble."

I will kill you slowly. I will watch your eyes go blank. And I will laugh.

Im soo sorry for the lack of updates :( im a bit busy nowdays huhu  hope you like this ! 🐻💗